Currently, there is little to no availability of olive products in the local markets of Pakistan. The ones that are locally produced come largely from small-scale private sector entities that process and package olives and olive oil. If Pakistan was to produce olive products locally, it would save billions of dollars every year. The incumbent government of Punjab under the vision of Chief Minister, Punjab aims to take olive and olive oil production to a level where Pakistan builds its presence in both local and international markets. The government recognises the potential benefits of olive farming for the country and therefore has allocated resources towards supporting this new emerging market. 
The favourable climate and topographic conditions of Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Khushab, and Mianwali under the Pothohar Region have been recognised as the appropriate region for the government’s plan of the olive plantation. Investment in olive plantation has been recognised as a priority by the Punjab Government because of its social, economic and environmental benefits. Planting olives will not only generate employment for the locals, minimise land degradation but also increase revenue through exports. Apart from the aforementioned benefits, olive farming also gives a higher sustained income to its growers. It does not require extensive care unlike other crops, so maintenance costs are substantially low. In fact, many growers affirm that other crops can be grown simultaneously with olives which gives them the leverage to utilise their land in a better way. 
The success story of Malik Lal Khan from Lawa, Chakwal serves a perfect example of how olive plantation can potentially revolutionise farming in Pothohar region. Malik was given 3,075 olive plants, on-site assistance for olive orchard establishment and management and facilitation through drip irrigation. The plantation over 23 acres not only curbed water erosion of the marginal land but also turned it into an area of a high-value crop. Furthermore, olive plantation generates many subsidiary activities such as extraction, processing and distribution that has an equal potential to generate additional employment for individuals in rural settings.
Keeping in view the future needs of a developed olive sector, the Agriculture Department has planned to execute a new project called, ‘Olive Value Chain Development.’ As olive is a new crop in Pakistan’s agriculture sector, an extensive research facility is needed to cope with problems and constraints of the industry. Such a facility can also research on business development and expansion opportunities on a national and international level. Realising this opportunity has enabled the Punjab Government to approve the establishment of a dedicated research facility titled “Centre of Excellence” for research, training, learning, and innovation across the entire olive value chain.
Spain is the largest olive oil producer in the world where 2.4 million hectares of land have been allocated to olive production. Owing to the exhaustive research facilitated by the Punjab Government, it has been revealed that Pakistan has approximately 3.5 million hectares of land that can be used for olive production. Total world production of olive oil is 2.75 million tons and according to estimates, only one-third of Chakwal’s properly cultivated area can produce two per cent of the world’s total production i.e. 55,000 tons. 
These projected estimates are precisely what motivated PTI to prioritise investments in this sector’s development. Currently, the Punjab Government is offering a complete package to farmers on a cost-sharing basis. Olive plants are being offered to farmers with a 70% subsidy on watering and cultivation. Additionally, it is offering a 60% subsidy on the drip irrigation system to those growers who can manage it. More than 800 participating farmers have so far been provided true-to-type disease-free olive plants. As a result of these efforts, quite a few of the orchards have started fruiting. A total of 2,957 acres have been planted with olives after 234,332 olive plantations took place during FY 2018-19 and 2019-20. A complete package of water lifting and pressurised irrigation system is in progress at the 363 sites that have been identified. 
It will not be an overstatement to say that Government Punjab is dedicated and earnest in providing the olive sector a platform to grow and expand to an extent where it will improve to GDP growth exponentially. 

–The writer is Head of Special Monitoring Unit, CM Punjab Office.